System for multicast transmission of targeted assets

Abstract

Asset options are multiplexed into a multicast stream. In one implementation, a single stream ( 300 ) includes programming ( 306 ) and assets ( 302 ). A user equipment device delivers one of the assets ( 302 ) for delivery in connection with an asset delivery opportunity. The stream ( 300 ) also includes metadata ( 304 ) to assist the user equipment device in selecting the asset for delivery. Targeted advertising can thus be implemented in shared stream environments while efficiently using available bandwidth.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for use in delivering targeted assets in a shared stream network environment comprising:
 operating a network structure of one or more network platforms to establish a first multicast stream wherein multiple end user devices can simultaneously receive the first multicast stream;   first inserting, into said first multicast stream, first programming content having a first asset delivery opportunity associated with a time window of said first programming content; and   second inserting, into a second multicast stream, the same as or different from said first multicast stream, a set of at least two assets available for delivery in said first asset delivery opportunity of said first programming content together with asset metadata for use by end user devices in selecting one of said set of at least two assets for delivery;   wherein said end user devices are configured to:   use the asset metadata to select one asset of said set of at least two assets for delivery in said first asset delivery opportunity of said first programming content such that said end user devices receive targeted assets via multicast in connection with shared stream programming, wherein said metadata comprises one or more of:
 a list of user equipment devices corresponding to one of said set of at least two assets; and 
 targeting parameters corresponding to one of said set of at least two assets; 
   play the first programming content; and   play the selected one asset of said set of at least two assets in the associated time window.   
     
     
         2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said first multicast stream comprises a single multicast data transmission stream and said set of at least two assets is included together with said first programming content in said first multicast stream. 
     
     
         3 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each asset of said set of at least two assets is associated with said time window of said first asset delivery opportunity. 
     
     
         4 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each asset of said set of at least two assets is inserted into said first multicast stream in synchronization with said time window of said first asset delivery opportunity. 
     
     
         5 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising determining a number of assets to be included in said set and selecting said number of assets based on an expected composition of an audience of said first multicast stream. 
     
     
         6 . The method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said expected composition is based on messaging between data network structure and at least some of said end user devices. 
     
     
         7 . The method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said expected composition is based on votes submitted by at least some of said end user devices with respect to said set of at least two assets. 
     
     
         8 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, from at least some of said end user devices, reports indicating assets delivered in connection with said first asset delivery opportunity. 
     
     
         9 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said selecting is based on a comparison of targeting parameters of said assets with classification parameters associated with each one of said end user devices. 
     
     
         10 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said comparison is performed at data network structure. 
     
     
         11 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said comparison is performed at each of said end user devices.